AUGUSTA, Maine — State Rep. Josh Plante, D-Berwick, has sponsored a bill that would require the Department of Environmental Protection to research ways state government can mitigate climate change in Maine.

The DEP terminated its study of climate change in 2010. Since then, data illustrating the rapid acceleration of climate change has necessitated the reopening of the study.

“Temperature fluctuations are part of normal climate cycles, but when 10 of the hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990, there is a problem,” said Plante. “We need to take immediate action to reduce pollution that is destroying our atmosphere, changing our weather patterns and hurting our way of life.”

Upon completion of the research, the DEP would be required to submit a carbon emissions reduction plan to the Legislature.

The Legislature’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources will schedule a public hearing for the bill in the coming weeks and will make a recommendation on the bill to the full Legislature later this session.